Hunt for success: today as a Tiger, tomorrow as a Lion

Geoff Newling31 May 2014, 4 a.m.

CHRIS Hunt has a critical weekend.

CHRIS Hunt has a critical weekend.

West Lions captain coach Chris Hunt (left) offloads to North Tamworth’s Marshall Barker during the recent Greater Northern Championships. Today the pair will be hoping to win an opening Country Championship match against Western at Singleton while Barker’s Bears tackle Gunnedah at Kitchener Park tonight and Hunt’s Lions go up against Wee Waa in a big double header at Scully Park tomorrow. Photo: Barry Smith 170514BSH25

The West Tamworth captain-coach runs out as five-eighth for Greater Northern Tigers in today’s Country Championship clash with Western at Singleton before leading West Lions into battle against Wee Waa Panthers in tomorrow’s big double header at Scully Park.

His first task is to win against Western.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said while having a rub before Tuesday’s Greater Northern training session under coach Darryl Rando.

“It’s a good challenge for us. I don’t know how they (Western) are shaping up but it will be tough.

“We’ve got a good backline and a good, mobile pack. The same as last year.

“ We mightn’t be real big but we have a mobile side that works hard.

“We got beaten in the semi by Newcastle last year.

“That was a tough game.”

At age 32, he is still as agile and incisive as ever.

The personal trainer can slice through attacks with rapier-like thrusts and doesn’t think the fact he and halfback Joey Griffiths (31) are on the other side of 30.

“A couple of old heads,” he laughed.

As for tomorrow – he’s wary of the Wee Waa Panthers.

“It looks like they have Brenton Cochrane and Kenny Anderson back.”

His West Lions side lost to Gunnedah 42-38 last Saturday in a game where Hunt scored two electric tries and he’s hoping to reprise some of that form today andtomorrow.